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David Cook

Pianist, composer and Musical Director David Cook was born in San Diego to a musical family and raised in Columbus, Ohio. Now living in New York City, he has enjoyed a varied career of performing, recording and producing.

A graduate of the University of Michigan school of music, David has Music Directed and/or played for many notable artists, including 12-time Grammy Award-winner Taylor Swift, Thomas Rhett, Maren Morris, Emmy/Oscar/Tony winner Ben Platt, Shoshana Bean, Lizz Wright, EGOT-winner Jennifer Husdon, Kesha, Utada Hikaru, Halsey, NSYNC, Billy Porter, Joshua Bassett, Blu DeTiger, Laundry Day, Tei Shi and Shayna Steele. He has also played piano in jazz groups led by drummers Mark Guiliana and Red Baraat’s Sunny Jain, guitarist Greg Howe, saxophonists Adam Kolker and Bob Reynolds as well as 2-time Grammy-nominated trombonist Alan Ferber.

David has released 2 critically acclaimed records as a leader on the Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records label, Pathway (2010) and Scenic Design (2015). Produced by Ben Wendel of Kneebody, Scenic Design features David Smith on trumpet, Wendel on saxophone, Matt Clohesy on bass and Kendrick Scott on drums. 2-time Grammy Award-winner composer and bandleader Maria Schneider says “Scenic Design is full of heart, intelligence, and simply fantastic playing…every piece thoughtfully carries the listener along with evolving nuance, expression and harmonic details.”

David is a member of the faculty at Montclair State University as adjunct professor of jazz at the John J. Cali school of music. He also represented the United States in 2008 and 2017 with ensembles through Jazz at Lincoln Center and the U.S. State Department. Those travels included Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Yemen, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, giving performances and clinics to audiences across the regions.

Other musicians that David has recorded or performed with include Dennis Chambers, Quincy Davis, John Ellis, Nir Felder, Tomas Fujiwara, Christian McBride, Donny McCaslin, Marcus Miller, Robert Randolph, Sachal Vasandani and Victor Wooten.


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5
Album Review

The Pat Petrillo Big Rhythm Band: The Power Station Sessions

Read "The Power Station Sessions" reviewed by Jim Worsley


To say that a record is all over the place is generally considered to be negative. However, that is not the case with this fun outing from drummer Pat Petrillo. His Big Rhythm Band pulsates through a wide variety of tunes. Not knowing what is coming next can come off as disjointed. But, again, not here. The surprising change of directions keeps it lively and entertaining. When it comes to Petrillo, entertaining is the right word to describe him and ...

3
Album Review

Joshua Crumbly: Rise

Read "Rise" reviewed by Geno Thackara


Joshua Crumbly and his bass have logged a good few miles learning from a respectable number of fellow players (Victor Bailey, Terence Blanchard, Kamasi Washington and more) in his fairly young career, and it shows—his debut may not be as wildly eclectic as it could have been with such a colorful history to build on, but then it's not specifically meant to be. Rise is more about portraying emotions and inner thoughts, and the variety of players and tones here ...

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130

Performance / Tour

Pianist/Composer David Cook Celebrates the Release of His Debut CD "Pathway" on Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records

Pianist/Composer David Cook Celebrates the Release of His Debut CD "Pathway" on  Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

NYC CD RELEASE PERFORMANCE—JANUARY 5, 2011 @ THE CORNELIA STREET CAFE! (Located at 29 Cornelia Street, sets at 8:30 & 10 PM, 212-989-9319) Pianist/Composer DAVID COOK Celebrates the Release of His Debut CD Pathway (on BJURECORDS) David Cook (piano), Marco Panascia (bass), Mark Ferber (drums) (Pathway is Available Now! at BJURecords.com and davidcookmusic.com) Possessing patience, self-awareness, and experience; knowing when to step out as a leader, is essential for a jazz musician. David Cook, originally from ...

148

Recording

David Cook - Pathway (2010)

David Cook - Pathway (2010)

Source: Something Else!

By Pico David Cook is a recent addition to the burgeoning young talent that's filling up the roster at Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records, and like his new labelmates, this pianist comes to BJU Records with an abundance of experience. Already, he's worked with Lizz Wright, Donny McCaslin, Dennis Chambers, John Ellis, Matt Wilson and even big-time pop stars like Justin Timberlake (speaking of pop, Mr. Cook is not to be confused with the American Idol winner of the same name). ...

273

Recording

Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records To Release PATHWAY, The Debut Recording From Pianist/Composer DAVID COOK

Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records To Release PATHWAY, The Debut Recording From Pianist/Composer DAVID COOK

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

(Available December 7, 2010 at BJURecords.com Pathway features: David Cook (piano, compositions) Matt Clohesy (bass) Mark Ferber (drums) NYC CD RELEASE PERFORMANCE—JANUARY 5, 2011 @ THE CORNELIA STREET CAFE!!! with Marco Panascia (bass) + Mark Ferber (drums) Possessing patience, self-awareness, and experience; knowing when to step out as a leader, is essential for a jazz musician. David Cook, originally from Columbus, OH, is an artist armed with these qualities in abundance, and ...

172

TV / Film

Ten Moments That Shook 'American Idol' in 2008

Ten Moments That Shook 'American Idol' in 2008

Source: Michael Ricci

To some (myself included), it was the greatest season in American Idol history. To others, it was sagging proof that the series was overdue for a reboot.

We had controversies, surprises, tragedies, outrages and amazing triumphs, and in the end hints of big shake-ups in the year to come. Below is my list of the most earth-jolting moments that rocked the Idoldome in 2008. Which did I leave out? What were yours?

10. David Hernandez stripping controversy. The ...

316

Recording

'American Idol's' David Cook Gets Help for New Album

'American Idol's' David Cook Gets Help  for New Album

Source: Michael Ricci

At one point on the road he's still on, leading from “American Idol" to the iPod promotions and summer shed tours of actual rock stardom, David Cook recently stopped for a bite to eat. In the car with him was Raine Maida, the Canadian singer and songwriter who fronts Our Lady Peace, a band Cook famously loves.

The 25-year-old newbie had seen the 38-year-old veteran perform numerous times back when Our Lady Peace was on the rise and Cook was ...

190

Technology

David Cook Proves iPhone Apps Are a Trojan Horse for Music Pricing

David Cook Proves iPhone Apps Are a Trojan Horse for Music Pricing

Source: All About Jazz

Steve Jobs' dogmatic “one price fits all" for music sold at the iTunes store faces an unlikely challenge -- from Apple itself.

Jobs has held firm to his 99-cents-per-song rate with one brief exception despite pressure from the major labels to charge different prices for music depending on demand and other factors. But Apple's own App Store for the iPhone and iPod Touch already allows artists and labels to do an end-run around those pricing restrictions and experiment with alternate ...

127

Recording

David Cook Wants LP to "Kick You in the Teeth" !

David Cook Wants LP to "Kick You in the Teeth" !

Source: All About Jazz

David Cook Crafts Heaviest “American Idol" Album Yet

During the show, I enjoyed messing with people's expectations. I'm not trying to surprise people now: I'm putting out a rock record. I just want the songs to kick you in the teeth or make you want to cry or do something drastic, like jump off a building. I want somebody to be exhausted when they're done listening. David Cook-American Idol Winner

Making an album like that is a tall ...

239

Recording

David Cook Gets "American Idiot" Producer for Album

David Cook Gets "American Idiot" Producer for Album

Source: All About Jazz

From American Idiot to American Idol

After David Archuleta fired the first salvo with “Crush," American Idol winner David Cook dropped news about his own debut album, revealing that Green Day's Idiot producer Rob Cavallo will man the boards. Cook and Cavallo are squeezing studio sessions while Cook fills his obligation to the AI tour, with mid-November still the targeted release date. Cavallo has also worked with artists like My Chemical Romance, Kid Rock, Avril Lavigne and, currently, the Dave ...

119

TV / Film

David Cook America's Accidental Idol

David Cook America's Accidental Idol

Source: All About Jazz

David Cook didn't even plan to try out for American Idol - and then he won

Less than a week after winning American Idol, David Cook is sitting in a glitzy restaurant on the south tip of Manhattan's Central Park. The chef, who proudly says he was among the 55 million who phoned in a vote for Cook during Idol's finals, presents the singer with an off- the-menu treat -- foie gras on toast -- that leaves Cook unnerved. “That ...

130

Music Industry

Idol David Cook Shatters Top Chart Records

Idol David Cook Shatters Top Chart Records

Source: All About Jazz

One week into his tenure as the American Idol and David Cook is already shattering Billboard records. Cook had 11 songs debut in the Hot 100 singles chart. To put things in perspective, the last time an artist had this many songs on the Hot 100, it was April 11, 1964 and the band was the Beatles. By placing 14 tracks on the Hot Digital Songs chart, he also breaks that list's previous record held by Miley Cyrus. Leading the ...

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Loyal Returns

Sunnyside Records
2023

buy

Up High, Down Low

Sunnyside Records
2023

buy

The Power Station...

Autumn Hill Records
2022

buy

Rise

Open Book Records
2020

buy

Dream Ago

Big Modern Music
2017

buy

Pathways

Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records
2011

buy

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